Drunk from and magnum and wowzer - this was an experience. Deep dark garnet in the glass. Nose of leather, floor polish, cassis, plum and stewed cherry. Dry, rich, leathery plum and red cherry on the palate. Extremely long finish of eucalyptus and dried herbs. This was wonderful both in character and flavour. Hugely long.
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I have only tasted this wonderful bottle twice in my life and both experiences were intoxicating for different reasons.
Tonight I laid down a note sent to me written in longhand from a young gorl in France who discovered a small wooden box belonging to her mother with letters between the two of us that she didn't know existed that told a story of a forbidden love that took place decades ago. As soon as I read the letter, I made the drive and purchased a bottle of the 1999 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection.
As I poured the 1999 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection into my Baccarat, I watched as the liquid gem flowed like velvet, casting a deep, garnet spell under the soft candlelight. The aroma that enveloped me was a tantalizing overture, a symphony of black currants, plums, and dark cherries that danced harmoniously with hints of cedar and tobacco. It was as if the wine itself was serenading my senses, whispering tales of passion and intrigue.
The first sip transported me back in time, back to the last time this wine graced my lips, back to the sultry summer of 1999 in the south of France.
Back then, I was but a poor laborer working a summer in Gordes, shoveling manure on a farm owned by a wealthy aristocrat whom I cannot name whose wife was a Colombian goddess, a woman whose allure was as captivating as a Picasso masterpiece.
The days in the scorching fields were long and grueling, and the evenings brought little reprieve from the sweltering sun. But amidst the toil and sweat, there was an unmistakable tension in the air, a subtle exchange of glances between me, the lowly laborer, and her, the ethereal beauty who watched from the window of the grand chateau.
Her name was Isabella, and her presence was like a shimmering mirage in the parched landscape of the farm. Her raven hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her figure possessed a grace that seemed almost unreal. I had caught her eye more than once, and those stolen glances were enough to set my heart racing but she was much older, 23 years older……like this wine is today.
One fateful evening, as I was returning from the fields, I heard it—a gentle ping against the bedroom window of the chateau. I looked up, my heart pounding, and there she was, Isabella, with her enigmatic ice cream smile that could melt the hardest of hearts. She beckoned me with a single, seductive gesture, and I couldn't resist the siren call.
I followed her invitation, my heart in my throat, and found myself in a room suffused with the warm glow of a crackling fire. It was a scene straight out of a dream, and the centerpiece of this enchanting tableau was none other than the 1999 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection, standing as a testament to the luxury that the aristocracy enjoyed. She had the bottle opened on the nightstand, and she poured me a glass. In broken French spoken with a latina accent she spoke only one word “drink”.
By today's standards, what unfolded next might be deemed illegal or inappropriate, but in that summer of '99, on a winery I shan't not mention, it was a blessing, a memory I cherish and pull out like a treasured relic when life's burdens weigh me down. The wine became a conduit for unspoken desires, a bridge that brought together two worlds that should never have collided.
I shelled $350 bucks for this bottle this evening because for any connoisseur, this wine is a time machine and I longed to go back in time where societal norms and boundaries ceased to exist. I wanted to remember her one more time, that forbidden tango that played out in the flickering firelight.
See, wine is more than a taste, it's a moment in time. That night my young twenty something experienced more than a good wine, but a silence heavy with unspoken truths. We knew that what we had shared was fleeting, that the morning light would bring reality crashing down upon us.
But for that one magical night, in the summer of '99, the 1999 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection had transported us to a place where time stood still, where love defied convention, and where a poor laborer and a Colombian goddess could share a forbidden love story that would forever remain etched in our hearts. It transported me again this evening, almost 24 years later.
Yes I remember Isabella, but as I drink this bottle alone against my crackling and the Seattle rain pounding my window, it's more than a memory. I remember every swirl as the wine seemed to come alive in my hand, mirroring the electric thrill that courses through a musician's veins when they strum the first chords of a beloved melody. It was a moment where time stood still, and the wine's siren call beckoned me to take the first sip.
As I reached the bottom of the glass this evening, I realized that this love affair (and her memory) was coming to an end but just like the gift she gave me of our last night in France, this evening Caymus had one last gift to bestow upon me – a lingering, reverberating finish that refused to fade into the night. It was as if the wine, like a guitar's final chord, held onto the moment, reluctant to let go.
Even 23 years later, the aftertaste was a tapestry of spices, dark fruit, and a hint of earthiness, leaving a memory etched in my soul. It was a wine that had captured my heart and taken me on an unforgettable journey, much like the adventures of a romantic explorer or the electrifying performance of a rock guitarist on a stage bathed in the glow of spotlights.
The 1999 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection is a wine that transcends the ordinary.
For the helpless romantic adventurer in me, it was a journey through the vineyards of passion once again, and a final goodbye to a love lost by time. .
Thank you Isabella and thank you Caymus. Young lady if you ever make it to the states, I’ll take you out to dinner and tell you what a wonderful woman your mother was.
Isabella *********
1952-2023 RIP
NOTE: decant 1.5, then glass by glass
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From Magnum. Purchased in 2006. Cellared in wine fridge almost all the time but this has crossed the Atlantic 3 times. Totally all together now. Dark - balanced, dark fruit - leather - definitely cabernet - good tannins - altogether balanced. I don't drink a lot of California Cab but for this event - it was the perfect wine. 93 points - - A solid showing.
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Took my last two bottles to have for dinner with two business associates at C&S Oyster Bar in Atlanta. Both cork broke, wines were decanted shortly with little to no sediment. Wafting aromas of baked blueberry pie engulfed our table. The wine was very round with an adequate amount of fruit to a lower acid and tannin structure. I'd say this wine has just gone over the hill and is just now hitting the back slope. Still has life in it but has already seen its peak. Dri k up as this is just now hitting its decline.
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Rarities dinner “Spectacular Californians” late Nov 2021: deep rubin red color; intense and complex bouquet of cassis, red berries, espresso, coconut, mint and vanilla; full and mildly furry with a slight sweetness on the palate.
Outstanding, for me the best out of six 1999 California Cab’s (other ones: Montelena, Dunn, Dominus, Phelps Insignia and Opus One) that evening.
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Had with a Filet Mignon at Mortons in San Diego. Still has a lot of life ahead of it. Tanins present upon opening, Wine smoothed out nicely over the hour we spent at Mortons. No hurry to consume this but I doubt there will be much further improvement. Wish I had more but this was my last bottle. 92 upon opening - 94 after 45 minutes. Enjoy-Currenly available for $175.00. Don't think i'd pay that much.
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Bought a six pack at Zachys auction in September. First one I’ve tried. 20 year old cab and the cork was as perfect as new. Due to the age I was hesitant to decant so popped and poured. Mint? And a hint of cocoa on the nose. On the palate plenty of dark fruit flavors still left. Blueberry and blackberry. Nice length on the finish. Probably not getting any better but still not past it’s prime. I think this can still keep a few more years if stored properly.
* Update. Between 1-2 hours open this is showing close to as well as a mature Cali Cab can for me. Smooth as silk. Bumping it up a notch to 96 now. Glad I was able to get a six pack in OWC and hoping all the rest of the bottles will be as good as this one.
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The nose is so very not blockbuster !!!! Needed air. Smooth , silky , tons of red and black fruits !! Sweet !!! Herbal and minty . So yummy . It has a fantastic freshness that makes you wish to sip again and again and ....! Wonderful liquid ! A point ! Drink drink drink
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Oh my! Had with octopus, grilled kangaroo, oysters, and spicy flat bread with butter. This wine is in a beautiful place right now. I'd say it is peaking. Color: 5/5; Nose:10/10; Palate: 19/20; Finish: 10/10; Age potential: 4/5 =48 + 50 = 98. This wine has a long and spicy finish. Best bottle I've had of this vintage.
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Recanted for 30 min to one hour. Had toward the end of a progressive flight. It was the obvious WOTN. According to cellar tracker this wine is well past its drinking window but I disagree. This wine is still holding strong and has a few years left to go.
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Took two bottles to the Blue Ridge Grill in Buckhead. Decanted during the course of the meal. This wine is definitely at the end of it's drinking window. It's still mighty good but it appears that it's best years are behind it.
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Took two bottles to the Blue Ridge Grill in Buckhead. Decanted during the meal with grilled lamb chops. This wine is definitely at the end of it's drinking window and its bestate days are behind it, but it's still pretty darn good.
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A wine of brillant youthful bright colour and clairity, with beautiful notes of violet, with very harmonious and subtle oak notes, woodsy, nose still closed and youthful with plenty of time to further age. Mouthfeel very spicy, with cherries, blackberries and smoky capsicum with BBQ notes. Slight dryness on finish but plenty of fine grained tennins with a very long lingering finish,
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Delicious. Consistent with my experiences with the 1999 vintage in Napa. While it lacks the richness and opulence of a vintage such as '02, the '99 Special Selection is utterly beautiful, elegant, silky soft and glides across the tongue. Incredibly well balanced. The sweet oak on the nose is gorgeous. It may not blow people away, but it tastes impeccably well made, the way an expensive wine should taste. There is some disagreement regarding the quality of the '99 vintage in general, and I personally think it's an underrated vintage. It might not have the age worthiness of the best vintages, but the wines have aged linearly and gracefully. This wine is in a great place right now. I don't think this is a 20+ year wine, so drink up! I didn't decant and don't think it needs to be.
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Opened and decanted for about 1 hour. Cherry and chocolate on the nose. Sweet berries and dark fruits on the palate. Very smooth start to finish. Stood its ground next to a '91 Opus. Real crowd pleaser.
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opaque, new oak bouquet reminding me to a Rioja, streams on the glass, tannins there but also silky. A thick wine full of berries and aromas. Missing a terroir or "character". The oaky nose fades after 1 1/2 hours. My only bottle. Suggest to decant for 3 hours+ if you want to drink now or cellar for another3-5 years. Not really my style
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Blind Cabs (32 East Delray Beach): Tasted blind (Black bag #2). Everyone smelled it said, whoa, this is funky and musty. Flat and dead. Undrinkable. Cork was very crumbly. Won't make judgment. The person that brought it said others in the same lot recently were really good.
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Very very good but probably needs another few years to show at its peak. Our only bottle, but still delicious with a steak dinner. Not infanticide, but early in its maturity.
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We ahd this bottle when I proposed to Marcia - at sunset at the Hot Tin Roof in Key West ... Great bottle of wine but not fabulous .... slightly tannic and medium nose and finish ... still a few more years left ...
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Drinking well, lots of oak. Very rich, expressive nose. I did not find the wine as tannic as some others, nicely integrated. There was a hint of being a little "stewed" that kept me from giving a higher score. No reason to wait, but no hurry either.
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Dark purple color and lightens out a bit on the rim. Lots of sweet cassis and vanilla, with a note of coffee. The wine is still tannic for some reason after all these years and is drinking a little hot on the open. Medium finish. Feels like a very good, non-multidimentional fruit bomb, but because of the amount of tannins and acidity this may develop with more bottle age.
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Pungent, earthy, spicy, dark fruits, more of a classic style wine. This had what I like to call the "tongue tickler" its a sweet and sour effect that tingles. Every wine that demonstrates this, I like. This was no exception. Not as good as the 2001, in my opinion, but definitely something to mark an occasion with. This bottle fortifies my love of Special Selection as one of my Top 3 wines. Grab your 2 closest wine buddies, crack this open, and enjoy the moment.
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This is a wine that has aged superbly. It still has a medium-dark purple color, and if it has lost any color, it has not lost much. This wine has 14.4% alcohol and when first opened, it had some acidity and was still tannic. After several hours in the bottle the tannin and acid become very silky and the wine gave off aromas of boysenberries, leather, espresso, anise and soy sauce. It tasted of black cherries, some dark berry, espresso and licorice. But as this wine approached 7 hours of sitting in the bottle, it really developed an incredible chocolate, anise and boysenberry aroma and a flavors that matched the aromas. Unfortunately, there is none left, but on the lucky side, I have 7 more bottles of this left and am looking forward to updating the notes on this one. I really feel that in another 2 years this wine will even be better, but by judging the acid and tannin from the initial opening of this bottle, it has at minimum 5 more peak years where it will continue to improve, and will easily see 20 years from vintage date. I would say you are safe up to 20 years from vintage date, but after that I am not sure where this wine is going. If you have any of this, I recommend decanting it for 6 hours before drinking. Do that and you will love this wine.
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Drank from magnum. Cork had signs of old seepage, but it apparently had no effect on the wine. This was much bigger than I expected. The tannins were very prominent and there was strong flavors of bell pepper and blackberry. I was expecting this to be very austere, but I was pleasantly surprised. Still, I would give this another 3-5 years before trying again.
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Surprisingly warm and rich fruit, especially for the vintage as I recall this being a challenging year. Expansive, rich nose that I could smell from a couple seats down as the waiter decanted the bottle. Tannins have nicely integrated (seemingly more than the regular bottling) and this has a lot of ripe strawberry, boysenberry, red currant, and a streak of licorice that adds some interest. Medium-length finish.
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An opaque deep ruby color and big legs. The nose was what Napa can do better than anyone: Pure cassis essence. then there was dark chocolate, roses, some thyme, a bit of bell pepper and lilacs. The wine was a delicious expression of fruit: cassis and black plums. Baking chocolate and graphite added to this full bodied beauty. Delicious. 96 pts.
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Drinking this out of a 3L was an out of this world experience. The wine was still youthful and the tannins were velvety smooth. The fruit was expressive with out being overly dominate and the finish was 10 secs long. Big bottle really do help wines age gracefully! This was proof! Sad we left over a bottle in one decanter but I’m sure the wait staff enjoyed it!
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WIML92,WA90,WS95 Tasted October 1, 2005 at an offline so brief comments only. Opened and served immediately in a Riedel Restaurant Series Bordeaux stem. Dark purple in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of bell pepper, cedar, black licorice, plum and a slightly odd “dirt” component. Flavors of red cherries dominate giving way to some dark fruits and licorice. A fairly enjoyable wine that’s pretty easy to drink. Turned out to be one of my favorite reds of the evening. I’d drink over the next 5-7 years myself. Recommended.
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10/4/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote: 95 Points
Drunk from and magnum and wowzer - this was an experience. Deep dark garnet in the glass. Nose of leather, floor polish, cassis, plum and stewed cherry. Dry, rich, leathery plum and red cherry on the palate. Extremely long finish of eucalyptus and dried herbs. This was wonderful both in character and flavour. Hugely long.
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9/1/2023 - BellevuePhil Likes this wine: 95 Points
I have only tasted this wonderful bottle twice in my life and both experiences were intoxicating for different reasons.
Tonight I laid down a note sent to me written in longhand from a young gorl in France who discovered a small wooden box belonging to her mother with letters between the two of us that she didn't know existed that told a story of a forbidden love that took place decades ago. As soon as I read the letter, I made the drive and purchased a bottle of the 1999 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection.
As I poured the 1999 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection into my Baccarat, I watched as the liquid gem flowed like velvet, casting a deep, garnet spell under the soft candlelight. The aroma that enveloped me was a tantalizing overture, a symphony of black currants, plums, and dark cherries that danced harmoniously with hints of cedar and tobacco. It was as if the wine itself was serenading my senses, whispering tales of passion and intrigue.
The first sip transported me back in time, back to the last time this wine graced my lips, back to the sultry summer of 1999 in the south of France.
Back then, I was but a poor laborer working a summer in Gordes, shoveling manure on a farm owned by a wealthy aristocrat whom I cannot name whose wife was a Colombian goddess, a woman whose allure was as captivating as a Picasso masterpiece.
The days in the scorching fields were long and grueling, and the evenings brought little reprieve from the sweltering sun. But amidst the toil and sweat, there was an unmistakable tension in the air, a subtle exchange of glances between me, the lowly laborer, and her, the ethereal beauty who watched from the window of the grand chateau.
Her name was Isabella, and her presence was like a shimmering mirage in the parched landscape of the farm. Her raven hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her figure possessed a grace that seemed almost unreal. I had caught her eye more than once, and those stolen glances were enough to set my heart racing but she was much older, 23 years older……like this wine is today.
One fateful evening, as I was returning from the fields, I heard it—a gentle ping against the bedroom window of the chateau. I looked up, my heart pounding, and there she was, Isabella, with her enigmatic ice cream smile that could melt the hardest of hearts. She beckoned me with a single, seductive gesture, and I couldn't resist the siren call.
I followed her invitation, my heart in my throat, and found myself in a room suffused with the warm glow of a crackling fire. It was a scene straight out of a dream, and the centerpiece of this enchanting tableau was none other than the 1999 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection, standing as a testament to the luxury that the aristocracy enjoyed. She had the bottle opened on the nightstand, and she poured me a glass. In broken French spoken with a latina accent she spoke only one word “drink”.
By today's standards, what unfolded next might be deemed illegal or inappropriate, but in that summer of '99, on a winery I shan't not mention, it was a blessing, a memory I cherish and pull out like a treasured relic when life's burdens weigh me down. The wine became a conduit for unspoken desires, a bridge that brought together two worlds that should never have collided.
I shelled $350 bucks for this bottle this evening because for any connoisseur, this wine is a time machine and I longed to go back in time where societal norms and boundaries ceased to exist. I wanted to remember her one more time, that forbidden tango that played out in the flickering firelight.
See, wine is more than a taste, it's a moment in time. That night my young twenty something experienced more than a good wine, but a silence heavy with unspoken truths. We knew that what we had shared was fleeting, that the morning light would bring reality crashing down upon us.
But for that one magical night, in the summer of '99, the 1999 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection had transported us to a place where time stood still, where love defied convention, and where a poor laborer and a Colombian goddess could share a forbidden love story that would forever remain etched in our hearts. It transported me again this evening, almost 24 years later.
Yes I remember Isabella, but as I drink this bottle alone against my crackling and the Seattle rain pounding my window, it's more than a memory. I remember every swirl as the wine seemed to come alive in my hand, mirroring the electric thrill that courses through a musician's veins when they strum the first chords of a beloved melody. It was a moment where time stood still, and the wine's siren call beckoned me to take the first sip.
As I reached the bottom of the glass this evening, I realized that this love affair (and her memory) was coming to an end but just like the gift she gave me of our last night in France, this evening Caymus had one last gift to bestow upon me – a lingering, reverberating finish that refused to fade into the night. It was as if the wine, like a guitar's final chord, held onto the moment, reluctant to let go.
Even 23 years later, the aftertaste was a tapestry of spices, dark fruit, and a hint of earthiness, leaving a memory etched in my soul. It was a wine that had captured my heart and taken me on an unforgettable journey, much like the adventures of a romantic explorer or the electrifying performance of a rock guitarist on a stage bathed in the glow of spotlights.
The 1999 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection is a wine that transcends the ordinary.
For the helpless romantic adventurer in me, it was a journey through the vineyards of passion once again, and a final goodbye to a love lost by time. .
Thank you Isabella and thank you Caymus. Young lady if you ever make it to the states, I’ll take you out to dinner and tell you what a wonderful woman your mother was.
Isabella *********
1952-2023 RIP
NOTE: decant 1.5, then glass by glass
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6/4/2023 - yvr2zrh Likes this wine: 93 Points
From Magnum. Purchased in 2006. Cellared in wine fridge almost all the time but this has crossed the Atlantic 3 times. Totally all together now. Dark - balanced, dark fruit - leather - definitely cabernet - good tannins - altogether balanced. I don't drink a lot of California Cab but for this event - it was the perfect wine. 93 points - - A solid showing.
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8/1/2022 - nocowine Likes this wine:
Berries and some earthiness though finish on the short side. We enjoyed it though past it’s prime.
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2/23/2022 - Bodyfxr wrote: 94 Points
See previous note
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2/23/2022 - Bodyfxr wrote: 94 Points
Took my last two bottles to have for dinner with two business associates at C&S Oyster Bar in Atlanta. Both cork broke, wines were decanted shortly with little to no sediment. Wafting aromas of baked blueberry pie engulfed our table. The wine was very round with an adequate amount of fruit to a lower acid and tannin structure. I'd say this wine has just gone over the hill and is just now hitting the back slope. Still has life in it but has already seen its peak. Dri k up as this is just now hitting its decline.
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11/27/2021 - Fatty Cat wrote: 95 Points
Rarities dinner “Spectacular Californians” late Nov 2021: deep rubin red color; intense and complex bouquet of cassis, red berries, espresso, coconut, mint and vanilla; full and mildly furry with a slight sweetness on the palate.
Outstanding, for me the best out of six 1999 California Cab’s (other ones: Montelena, Dunn, Dominus, Phelps Insignia and Opus One) that evening.
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8/6/2021 - Judenova Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fantastic not as good as the 97
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9/26/2020 - G_H wrote: 96 Points
Still youthful, fruit driven and just at a perfect stage right now. But can go easily for another 15 years
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8/27/2020 - ken@ampy.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had with a Filet Mignon at Mortons in San Diego. Still has a lot of life ahead of it. Tanins present upon opening, Wine smoothed out nicely over the hour we spent at Mortons. No hurry to consume this but I doubt there will be much further improvement. Wish I had more but this was my last bottle. 92 upon opening - 94 after 45 minutes. Enjoy-Currenly available for $175.00. Don't think i'd pay that much.
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12/11/2019 - G_H wrote: 96 Points
Wow, pure mature Cali-Cab beauty! Still lots of tannin left, so this ine has not yet reached its full maturity plateau. Amazing
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11/30/2019 - BostonSteve Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bought a six pack at Zachys auction in September. First one I’ve tried. 20 year old cab and the cork was as perfect as new. Due to the age I was hesitant to decant so popped and poured. Mint? And a hint of cocoa on the nose. On the palate plenty of dark fruit flavors still left. Blueberry and blackberry. Nice length on the finish. Probably not getting any better but still not past it’s prime. I think this can still keep a few more years if stored properly.
* Update. Between 1-2 hours open this is showing close to as well as a mature Cali Cab can for me. Smooth as silk. Bumping it up a notch to 96 now. Glad I was able to get a six pack in OWC and hoping all the rest of the bottles will be as good as this one.
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12/17/2017 - Frank Schneider wrote: 97 Points
The nose is so very not blockbuster !!!! Needed air. Smooth , silky , tons of red and black fruits !! Sweet !!! Herbal and minty . So yummy . It has a fantastic freshness that makes you wish to sip again and again and ....! Wonderful liquid ! A point ! Drink drink drink
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10/16/2017 - Bodyfxr wrote: 98 Points
Oh my! Had with octopus, grilled kangaroo, oysters, and spicy flat bread with butter. This wine is in a beautiful place right now. I'd say it is peaking. Color: 5/5; Nose:10/10; Palate: 19/20; Finish: 10/10; Age potential: 4/5 =48 + 50 = 98. This wine has a long and spicy finish. Best bottle I've had of this vintage.
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6/28/2017 - lgkahn wrote: 94 Points
Yummy yummy
. Not past its prime at all
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5/28/2017 - Bodyfxr wrote: 94 Points
Recanted for 30 min to one hour. Had toward the end of a progressive flight. It was the obvious WOTN. According to cellar tracker this wine is well past its drinking window but I disagree. This wine is still holding strong and has a few years left to go.
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2/5/2017 - Bodyfxr wrote: 93 Points
Took two bottles to the Blue Ridge Grill in Buckhead. Decanted during the course of the meal. This wine is definitely at the end of it's drinking window. It's still mighty good but it appears that it's best years are behind it.
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1/15/2017 - Bodyfxr wrote: 93 Points
See previous note.
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1/15/2017 - Bodyfxr wrote: 93 Points
Took two bottles to the Blue Ridge Grill in Buckhead. Decanted during the meal with grilled lamb chops. This wine is definitely at the end of it's drinking window and its bestate days are behind it, but it's still pretty darn good.
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8/8/2016 - Ben Stewart Likes this wine: 94 Points
A wine of brillant youthful bright colour and clairity, with beautiful notes of violet, with very harmonious and subtle oak notes, woodsy, nose still closed and youthful with plenty of time to further age. Mouthfeel very spicy, with cherries, blackberries and smoky capsicum with BBQ notes. Slight dryness on finish but plenty of fine grained tennins with a very long lingering finish,
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8/31/2015 - Dr. Pato wrote: 97 Points
An absolute blockbuster. Rich ripe black currant, sweet smoke, leather, oak.
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4/1/2015 - Jonathan T Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delicious. Consistent with my experiences with the 1999 vintage in Napa. While it lacks the richness and opulence of a vintage such as '02, the '99 Special Selection is utterly beautiful, elegant, silky soft and glides across the tongue. Incredibly well balanced. The sweet oak on the nose is gorgeous. It may not blow people away, but it tastes impeccably well made, the way an expensive wine should taste. There is some disagreement regarding the quality of the '99 vintage in general, and I personally think it's an underrated vintage. It might not have the age worthiness of the best vintages, but the wines have aged linearly and gracefully. This wine is in a great place right now. I don't think this is a 20+ year wine, so drink up! I didn't decant and don't think it needs to be.
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3/15/2015 - FGS Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened and decanted for about 1 hour. Cherry and chocolate on the nose. Sweet berries and dark fruits on the palate. Very smooth start to finish. Stood its ground next to a '91 Opus. Real crowd pleaser.
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12/5/2014 - jonanator wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful bottle that showed just as well as a '99 Opus One. Great structure and depth.
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7/20/2014 - Choop wrote: 95 Points
So smooth
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5/15/2014 - wcampbell wrote: 94 Points
- Medium forming legs.
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12/26/2013 - mwanasheria wrote: 92 Points
Very forward and obvious. Very fruity with cassis, sweet vanilla, silky tannins. Quite young. Not terribly complex but really nice.
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12/23/2013 - Tight Lines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Great bottle. Wonderful nose, deep, rich fruit, awesome 40 sec finish.
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10/4/2013 - LFCHALA wrote: 90 Points
Medium body. Fruity. Floral touches. However, lacked elegance and singularity. A little disappointing.
Drunk in the restaurant Porceli Malone - New York
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8/31/2013 - jsebiri wrote:
Very very nice bottle of cab , nothing to disappoint for sure
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7/23/2013 - Paui wrote: 91 Points
opaque, new oak bouquet reminding me to a Rioja, streams on the glass, tannins there but also silky. A thick wine full of berries and aromas. Missing a terroir or "character". The oaky nose fades after 1 1/2 hours. My only bottle. Suggest to decant for 3 hours+ if you want to drink now or cellar for another3-5 years. Not really my style
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4/29/2012 - gschneider wrote: 94 Points
Impressive, Drinking close to perfect now.
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4/14/2012 - ranisfunpark wrote: 94 Points
Wonderful pure and powerful aromas and taste of black currant with hints of spice and liquorice. Excellent finish. A fantastic wine.
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10/26/2011 - rdsboca wrote: flawed
Blind Cabs (32 East Delray Beach): Tasted blind (Black bag #2). Everyone smelled it said, whoa, this is funky and musty. Flat and dead. Undrinkable. Cork was very crumbly. Won't make judgment. The person that brought it said others in the same lot recently were really good.
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3/6/2011 - Luvwine1 wrote:
Very very good but probably needs another few years to show at its peak. Our only bottle, but still delicious with a steak dinner. Not infanticide, but early in its maturity.
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2/19/2011 - RussK wrote: 90 Points
RUSSK WWiz at Sage. Phil's CA/BX tasting. Big Vanilla, touch of bitterness.
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6/22/2010 - dannyk8232 wrote: 92 Points
Absolutely singing right now. Big, dark wine that has everything in its right place. If anything, lacking acidity a bit. Otherwise, excellent!
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5/26/2010 - Jordan7T wrote: 91 Points
We ahd this bottle when I proposed to Marcia - at sunset at the Hot Tin Roof in Key West ... Great bottle of wine but not fabulous .... slightly tannic and medium nose and finish ... still a few more years left ...
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4/25/2010 - blaine wrote: 91 Points
Drinking well, lots of oak. Very rich, expressive nose. I did not find the wine as tannic as some others, nicely integrated. There was a hint of being a little "stewed" that kept me from giving a higher score. No reason to wait, but no hurry either.
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9/30/2009 - Dardanarius wrote: 89 Points
Dark purple color and lightens out a bit on the rim. Lots of sweet cassis and vanilla, with a note of coffee. The wine is still tannic for some reason after all these years and is drinking a little hot on the open. Medium finish. Feels like a very good, non-multidimentional fruit bomb, but because of the amount of tannins and acidity this may develop with more bottle age.
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5/15/2009 - Terran23 wrote:
Pungent, earthy, spicy, dark fruits, more of a classic style wine. This had what I like to call the "tongue tickler" its a sweet and sour effect that tingles. Every wine that demonstrates this, I like. This was no exception. Not as good as the 2001, in my opinion, but definitely something to mark an occasion with. This bottle fortifies my love of Special Selection as one of my Top 3 wines. Grab your 2 closest wine buddies, crack this open, and enjoy the moment.
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5/10/2009 - Renegade wrote: 95 Points
This is a wine that has aged superbly. It still has a medium-dark purple color, and if it has lost any color, it has not lost much. This wine has 14.4% alcohol and when first opened, it had some acidity and was still tannic. After several hours in the bottle the tannin and acid become very silky and the wine gave off aromas of boysenberries, leather, espresso, anise and soy sauce. It tasted of black cherries, some dark berry, espresso and licorice. But as this wine approached 7 hours of sitting in the bottle, it really developed an incredible chocolate, anise and boysenberry aroma and a flavors that matched the aromas. Unfortunately, there is none left, but on the lucky side, I have 7 more bottles of this left and am looking forward to updating the notes on this one. I really feel that in another 2 years this wine will even be better, but by judging the acid and tannin from the initial opening of this bottle, it has at minimum 5 more peak years where it will continue to improve, and will easily see 20 years from vintage date. I would say you are safe up to 20 years from vintage date, but after that I am not sure where this wine is going. If you have any of this, I recommend decanting it for 6 hours before drinking. Do that and you will love this wine.
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4/19/2009 - JJL wrote: 92 Points
Drank from magnum. Cork had signs of old seepage, but it apparently had no effect on the wine. This was much bigger than I expected. The tannins were very prominent and there was strong flavors of bell pepper and blackberry. I was expecting this to be very austere, but I was pleasantly surprised. Still, I would give this another 3-5 years before trying again.
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12/4/2008 - jeffm_fla wrote: 90 Points
Rich dark color, slight herbal notes. Good but not great, particularly for the price and with all the hype.
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7/21/2007 - MarkC wrote: 93 Points
Surprisingly warm and rich fruit, especially for the vintage as I recall this being a challenging year. Expansive, rich nose that I could smell from a couple seats down as the waiter decanted the bottle. Tannins have nicely integrated (seemingly more than the regular bottling) and this has a lot of ripe strawberry, boysenberry, red currant, and a streak of licorice that adds some interest. Medium-length finish.
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8/26/2006 - cct wrote: 96 Points
An opaque deep ruby color and big legs. The nose was what Napa can do better than anyone: Pure cassis essence. then there was dark chocolate, roses, some thyme, a bit of bell pepper and lilacs. The wine was a delicious expression of fruit: cassis and black plums. Baking chocolate and graphite added to this full bodied beauty. Delicious. 96 pts.
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5/6/2006 - jhngo wrote: 97 Points
Drinking this out of a 3L was an out of this world experience. The wine was still youthful and the tannins were velvety smooth. The fruit was expressive with out being overly dominate and the finish was 10 secs long. Big bottle really do help wines age gracefully! This was proof! Sad we left over a bottle in one decanter but I’m sure the wait staff enjoyed it!
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10/1/2005 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92,WA90,WS95
Tasted October 1, 2005 at an offline so brief comments only. Opened and served immediately in a Riedel Restaurant Series Bordeaux stem. Dark purple in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of bell pepper, cedar, black licorice, plum and a slightly odd “dirt” component. Flavors of red cherries dominate giving way to some dark fruits and licorice. A fairly enjoyable wine that’s pretty easy to drink. Turned out to be one of my favorite reds of the evening. I’d drink over the next 5-7 years myself. Recommended.
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